Village Engineer Tom Lundeen Is Working To Engineer A Stronger Wellington By Callie Sharkey
As the Village of Wellington works to build a stronger, more resilient community that works for residents today and well into the future, understanding the big picture is an important character trait for leaders like Village Engineer Tom Lundeen. something new, since he Lundeen joined the Welbelieves that change is not lington team in 2016 and is only inevitable, but also a looking forward to a long good thing. He has known future supporting WellingVillage Manager Paul Schoton and its residents. field and Assistant Village “I’m here to help proManager Jim Barnes since tect the residents and their his time with Palm Beach property,” explained LunCounty, and the shift to Weldeen, who leads a dedicated lington has been a good fit. crew of professionals. “I “I’ve been in government oversee the Engineering for more than 29 years now, Department and the Public and it is a lot different,” Works Department, which Lundeen said. “I get excited means I manage more than when we get into a project. 100 employees.” The system works, but it can Lundeen grew up on a Village Engineer Tom Lundeen shares his expertise with local students. always be improved.” farm in Minnesota. After He gives most of the credit, though, completing a degree in civil engineerBefore coming to Wellington, Luning, he moved to Florida in 1985 to find deen was the engineer and deputy di- to his teams in engineering and pubnew challenges and career options. rector for the Port of Palm Beach for lic works. Lundeen is proud to have a group of people who see the big pic“A friend lived down here and said, many years. ‘Come on down, there’s plenty of jobs.’ “Working for the Port of Palm Beach ture, just like he does. “There are some fabulous people Within three days, I had three job of- was one of those jobs where you wake up fers,” Lundeen recalled. every morning because you want to see who work here. I don’t think I could Over time, he gained a great deal of what’s going to happen next,” Lundeen have hand-picked them any better,” experience in both the public and pri- said. “I was working with electrical and Lundeen said. “Right now, everything vate sectors, always looking for new ways structural engineers, building sea walls is in place and working well in both deto improve both his own knowledge and and bulkheads, managing paving and partments. Public Works is filled with jacks of all trades, and masters of most the infrastructure around him. Lun- drainage.” deen was involved in massive projects An avid scuba diver, Lundeen inte- of them. If an issue comes up, like a trafranging from new bridges and roadways grated his skills at work by completing fic problem, we can fix a road, put in a in Brevard County to raising U.S. High- more than 300 inspections underwater. turn lane or design a traffic circle.” He is especially proud of the work way 1. After a time, Lundeen was ready for 54
june 2019 | wellington the magazine